Forever was commissioned in 2012 by Dee Allaway and her family in memory of her father Walter Dennis Oliver. It’s a grand tribute to a man who brought music to his family as well as others around him. At least five octaves of handbells are necessary to play Forever. You’ll find that there are abundant …
Tag: 3-5 octaves
With the passage of time, handbell choirs have grown in size and acquire more and more octaves of bells. Sets of three to five octaves are pretty typical as of the 21st century. Four-octave sets, strangely, are relatively uncommon.
Note that some pieces in the Choraegus catalog are for three or five octaves.
Mar 10
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (ELLACOMBE) (Handbells, 3 to 5 octaves, Level 3+)
The Bible says that it is the Person and power of the Lord Jesus Christ that holds the universe from falling apart. That’s true not only in physics, but also in our own lives as well. Our new arrangement of I Sing the Mighty Power of God has some delightful counterpoint that will challenge your …
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (ELLACOMBE) (Handbells, 3 to 5 octaves, Level 3+)
The Bible says that it is the Person and power of the Lord Jesus Christ that holds the universe from falling apart. That’s true not only in physics, but also in our own lives as well. This arrangement of I Sing the Mighty Power of God has some delightful counterpoint that will challenge and enchant …
Mar 07
Snow (Handbells, 3 octaves, Level 1+)
I love living in Michigan. The rotation of the seasons give me something to love every month, and something fresh to do every three months. Okay… mowing in the spring and summer, raking in the autumn, and shoveling in the winter. But it’s exercise, and I’m in better shape for it! In the handbell world, …
Standing on the Promises of God (handbells, 3 to 5 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 3)
Standing on the Promises was one of the hymns we sang often in my first church. It reflects the joy of having Christ as Savior, and the hope of going to heaven. When God makes a promise, He keeps it! Standing on the Promises is available from Handbell World.
Crush Collision March (handbells, 3 to 6 octaves, Level 4)
Scott Joplin’s genius as the King of Rag shines in this arrangement of his Crush Collision March. The music depicts a long railroad track with two steam locomotives and the cars they’re pulling. The problem is that the two trains are headed toward each other at full tilt, and are unaware of each other until …
Chopsticks (handbells, 3 to 5 octaves, Level 5/6)
There’s a famous story about how a little boy found his way onto the great Ignacy Paderewski’s piano bench before a concert, and, oblivious to the audience, began playing Euphemia Allen’s world-famous 1877 hit Chopsticks. The ticket-holders in the seats were shocked, and angrily wanted the child removed. Paderewski, however, walked up behind the bench …
Feb 21
We have a new video for Rescue (for handbell choir, 3 to 7 octaves)!
We published Rescue, an original handbell piece for three to seven octaves, some time ago. Now we’ve made a new video! Rescue draws a picture of a bit of the composer’s own life story… but while the details aren’t shared here, perhaps you can think of a time when your own path was dark and …
Feb 14
Five (handbells, 3-5 octaves, Level 2+)
We’ve produced a new five-octave video of Five, our (Larry and Carla’s) fifth-anniversary handbell piece. It’s Level 2+, and you’ll have fun looking for all the “fives” written into the score! Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to print and maintain up to fifteen copies for your handbell ensemble; purchasing the …
Jesus, Lover of My Soul (ABERYSTWYTH) (Handbells, 3 to 5 octaves, Level 3)
Jesus loves us – that’s the glorious, plainly-stated truth of what matters in life and eternity. Here’s a handbell arrangement of Jesus, Lover of My Soul (hymn tune ABERYSTWYTH) that was married to Charles Wesley’s words: Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly, while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest …
